Train line coupling



Jan. 2, 1951 R. J. TRAVERS TRAIN LINE COUPLING Filed Dec. 21, 1948 5 r R K m m w m P WJ m n A o m W B Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAIN LINE COUPLING Raymond John Travers, Youngstowmohio Application December 21, 1948, Serial No. 66,543

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to railroad equipment and more particularly to train line couplings for rolling stock.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a movable, yieldable train line coupling.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a train line coupling capable of transverse and longitudinal movement to avoid break- ;age by accidental engagement of train couplers therewith.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive train line coupling providing telescopic action between the train line and the portion thereof extending beyond the end sill of the railroad car.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a flexible movable train line coupling providing an air-tight train line connection in normal operation.

The train line coupling shown and described herein comprises a simple and efficient mechanism for establishing communication of the train line between adjacent railroad cars and providing at the same time a structure which will not be damaged in the event it is accidentally struck or moved by the railroad car couplers. It is well known that frequent and costly damage occurs .to the train line couplings when railroad cars and particularly freight cars are switched about in a freight yard and the cars recoupled as in making up a train. The damage occurs primarily ,by reason of the couplers on the cars being out of alignment and striking the train line couplings, thereby bending, breaking or otherwise damaging either the train line couplings themselves or the flexible hoses connected thereto. Such delays and interruptions as have heretofore been occasioned by such accidental breakage are eliminated completely by the use of the train line couplings disclosed herein.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, whereina Figure 1 is a side view of portions of railroad cars having sections broken away and illustrating the train line couplings.

Figure 2 is a top plan view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 33 of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1 and 2 in particular it will be seen that adjacent end portions of a pair of railroad cars I0 and H are illustrated and each of which is provided with the conventional couplers I2 and I3, respectively. The end sills of the cars are indicated by the numerals M and i5 and the train line in each of the cars is indicated by the numerals l6 and 1?, respectively. As is well known, the train lines provide means for conveying compressed air through the various cars of the train for actuation of the air brakes. v

In Figure 1 of the drawings the couplers l2 and I3 are shown in uncoupled relationship and the train lines It and H are shown equipped with train line couplers l8 and H] which include telescopic sections 20 and 2 I, respectively. The telescopically engaged sections 20 and 2| extend through the end sills l4 and I5, respectively, as heretofore described, and are normally biased toward one end of a slot-like opening therein by means hereinafter disclosed. Both of the train line couplings l8 and 19 comprise essentially elongated cylindrical members as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings wherein the coupling I8 is shown in enlarged detail. The coupling [8 is'connected directly with the train line It and is provided with a removable cap 22 on the opposite end thereof, the cap forming a gland 23 about. the telescopically engaged portion 20 of' the coupling [8.

The inner end of the telescopically engaged portion 29 is provided with a flange 24 which is preferably secured thereto as by welding. A resilient gasket 25 is disposed between the inner side of the cap 22 and the flange 24 so that an airtight connection is made between the cylindrical member of the coupling [8 and the telescopically engaged portion 20 thereof when the flange 24 is in registry therewith. A coil spring 26 is disposed within the cylindrical body of the train line coupling I8 and engages the flange 24 and the opposite end of the coupling member and normally holds the flange 24 in engagement with the gasket 25. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the cylindrical body of the coupling l8 may be connected with the train line [6 by way of a cap comprising a duplicate of the cap 22 heretofore referred to in place of the upset end construction illustrated. The telescopically engaged portion 20 of the device extends through,

same to vthetrain lines at a lend sins of the. cars.

loam is:

3 the end sill M by way of an elongated slot located therein, oppositely disposed face plates 21-21 being positioned one on each side of the end sill and serving to cage a secondary coil spring 28. A U-shaped bracket 29 is positioned between one end of the secondary coil Spring 28 and the telescopically engaged portion 20 of the coupling nd tends 'to hold'the device in one end of the at in theend sill M as shown. It will be obvious that the train line coupling is held'in position away from the car couplers l2 and I3 heretofore referred to.

By again referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the outermost end of the telescopically engaged portion of the cou-v pling U8 is provided with an angle cock 30 to which a section of flexible hose 3! is secured which is provided with a conventional coupler 32 on its outermost end. The entire train line'cou- ,pling is suspended in the railroad car by suitable means such as hangers 33 which provide the transverse motion necessary and, additionally, support the train line couplings against end thrust. In operation, it will be seen that the accidental engagement of either of the main couplers IZ or i3 against the train line couplings will result in their sideward movement and, most importantly, their longitudinal movement with respect to the railroad car on which they are installed, thus avoiding breakage or damage which would'otherwise' necessitate laying up the car for repairs.

It will further be seen by those skilled in the art, that the, train line coupling disclosed herein maybe economically fabricated as it comprises essentially sections of tubular'members and that :it may be installed easily and economically in existing rolling stock by simply coupling the point in back of the It will thus be seen that a simple and efficient ftrain'line coupling'has been disclosed which meets the several objects of the invention.

disposed within the said cap and for engagement with the said flange to form an air seal between the cylindrical member and the tubular member when they are in maximum extended relation, a coil spring within the said cylindrical member and positioned between the same and the said flange so as to urge the flange against the said gasket, the outermost end of the said tubular member extending outwardly and having an angle cock and. a section of flexible hose secured thereto, the device acting to absorb endwise motion imparted thereto as by the coupler of an adjacent railway car. v p

. 2. A'train line coupling comprising a cylindrical bqdymember having an inletopening at one end'in communication with the'train line and an apertured cap on the other. end, atubular body member the diameter of which is less than the inner diameter of the, said cylindrical member and reciprocally positioned through said apertured cap, an' outtu'rned flange formed"en thel.

inner end of the said tubular member and slidably engaging the inner surface of thesaid eylindrical member, a spring positioned between'the inlet end or the said cylindrical member and the said flanged end'of the said tubular member and a gasket positioned within the said capped end of the said cylindrical member through which wise motion imparted thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 I. A train line coupling comprising an elongated cylindrical member in communication at RAYMQND JOHN TRAVERS. 7

REFERENCES CITED The following 'ref'erences'are of record in the file of this patent: I 1? TED.- SIFATESs PATENTS. 1

Number I Name Date 264,965 Shook Sept. 26, 1382 336,129' McGa'han Feb. 16;, 1836 407,671 Leland July 23; 1889 FOREIGN PATENTS Y Number Country- 7 Date j 19,396 Great Britain Sept. 7, 1M4 

